Apparatus, system and method of active noise control (anc) based on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (hvac) configuration

ABSTRACT

For example, an apparatus may include an input to receive input information including a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) input including HVAC configuration information corresponding to a configuration of an operation of an HVAC system of a vehicle; a plurality of noise inputs representing acoustic noise at a plurality of noise sensing locations; and a plurality of residual-noise inputs representing acoustic residual-noise at a plurality of residual-noise sensing locations within at least one sound control zone in the vehicle; a controller configured to determine a sound control pattern to control sound within the at least one sound control zone in the vehicle, the controller configured to determine the sound control pattern based on the HVAC input, the plurality of noise inputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs; and an output to output the sound control pattern to a plurality of acoustic transducers.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of and priority from U.S.Provisional patent Application No. 62/926,510, entitled “APPARATUS,SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ACTIVE NOISE CONTROL (ANC) BASED ON HEATING,VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) CONFIGURATION”, filed Oct. 27,2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to Active Noise Control(ANC).

BACKGROUND

A Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system on a vehiclecontrols the micro-climate inside a cabin of the vehicle, for example,for improved user experience, e.g., heating, cooling, ventilation, andthe like, and/or for safety issues, e.g., defrost, defog of the frontand/or rear windows.

The HVAC system may be operated, e.g., turned on, by a user of thevehicle, for example, after the vehicle is turned on, and may continueto operate, e.g., until the vehicle is turned off.

The HVAC system may be based on a blower driving air at mid or highspeed, which may create a considerable amount of noise. Therefore,operation of the system may result in continuous noise during the entireor most of the vehicle operation time, which may create an acousticdisturbance to the driver and passengers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in thefigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to otherelements for clarity of presentation. Furthermore, reference numeralsmay be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. The figures are listed below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustration of an Active NoiseControl (ANC) system, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a deployment scheme of componentsof the ANC system of FIG. 1, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a controller, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustration of aMultiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) prediction unit, in accordancewith some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an implementation of components ofa controller of an ANC system, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a deployment ofcomponents of an ANC system in a vehicle, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram illustration of possible locationsof sensors of an ANC system, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of possible locations of sensors of an ANCsystem, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of possible locations of sensors of an ANCsystem, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of an air velocity map of a Heating,Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a schematic flow-chart illustration of a method ofinstallation of components of an ANC system, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a schematic flow-chart illustration of a method of soundcontrol, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a product ofmanufacture, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments.However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the artthat some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, unitsand/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscurethe discussion.

Discussions herein utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing”,“computing”, “calculating”, “determining”, “establishing”, “analyzing”,“checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) ofa computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or otherelectronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform datarepresented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within thecomputer's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer's registersand/or memories or other information storage medium that may storeinstructions to perform operations and/or processes.

The terms “plurality” and “a plurality” as used herein include, forexample, “multiple” or “two or more”. For example, “a plurality ofitems” includes two or more items.

Some portions of the following detailed description are presented interms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on databits or binary digital signals within a computer memory. Thesealgorithmic descriptions and representations may be the techniques usedby those skilled in the data processing arts to convey the substance oftheir work to others skilled in the art.

An algorithm is here, and generally, considered to be a self-consistentsequence of acts or operations leading to a desired result. Theseinclude physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, thoughnot necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical ormagnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined,compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times,principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals asbits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers or the like.It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

As used herein, the term “circuitry” may refer to, be part of, orinclude, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), anintegrated circuit, an electronic circuit, a processor (shared,dedicated, or group), and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group), thatexecute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logiccircuit, and/or other suitable hardware components that provide thedescribed functionality. In some embodiments, the circuitry may beimplemented in, or functions associated with the circuitry may beimplemented by, one or more software or firmware modules. In someembodiments, circuitry may include logic, at least partially operable inhardware.

The term “logic” may refer, for example, to computing logic embedded incircuitry of a computing apparatus and/or computing logic stored in amemory of a computing apparatus. For example, the logic may beaccessible by a processor of the computing apparatus to execute thecomputing logic to perform computing functions and/or operations. In oneexample, logic may be embedded in various types of memory and/orfirmware, e.g., silicon blocks of various chips and/or processors. Logicmay be included in, and/or implemented as part of, various circuitry,e.g., radio circuitry, receiver circuitry, control circuitry,transmitter circuitry, transceiver circuitry, processor circuitry,and/or the like. In one example, logic may be embedded in volatilememory and/or non-volatile memory, including random access memory, readonly memory, programmable memory, magnetic memory, flash memory,persistent memory, and/or the like. Logic may be executed by one or moreprocessors using memory, e.g., registers, buffers, stacks, and the like,coupled to the one or more processors, e.g., as necessary to execute thelogic.

Some demonstrative embodiments include systems and methods, which may beefficiently implemented for controlling noise, for example, reducing oreliminating undesirable noise, e.g., at least noise of generally lowfrequencies, as described below.

Some demonstrative embodiments may include methods and/or systems ofActive Noise Control (ANC) configured to control, reduce and/oreliminate the noise energy and/or wave amplitude of one or more acousticpatterns (“primary patterns”) produced by one or more noise sources,which may include known and/or unknown noise sources.

In some demonstrative embodiments, an ANC system may be configured toproduce a noise control pattern (also referred to as “sound controlpattern” or “secondary pattern”), e.g., including a destructive noisepattern and/or any other sound control pattern, which may be based onone or more of the primary patterns, for example, such that a controlledsound zone, for example, a reduced noise zone, e.g., a quiet zone, maybe created by a combination of the secondary and primary patterns.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ANC system may be configured tocontrol, reduce and/or eliminate noise within a predefined location,area or zone (“the noise-control zone”, also referred to as the “quietzone”, or “Quiet Bubble™”), without, for example, regardless of, and/orwithout using a-priori information regarding the primary patterns and/orthe one or more noise sources.

For example, the ANC system may be configured to control, reduce and/oreliminate noise within the noise control zone, e.g., independent of,regardless of and/or without knowing in advance one or more attributesof one or more of the noise sources and/or one or more of the primarypatterns, for example, the number, type, location and/or otherattributes of one or more of the primary patterns and/or one or more ofthe noise sources.

Some demonstrative embodiments are described herein with respect to ANCsystems and/or methods configured to reduce and/or eliminate the noiseenergy and/or wave amplitude of one or more acoustic patterns within aquiet zone.

However, in other embodiments, any other ANC and/or sound controlsystems and/or methods may be configured to control in any other mannerany other sound energy and/or wave amplitude of one or more acousticpatterns within a sound control zone, for example, to affect, alterand/or modify the sound energy and/or wave amplitude of one or moreacoustic patterns within a predefined zone.

In one example, the ANC systems and/or methods may be configured toselectively reduce and/or eliminate the noise energy and/or waveamplitude of one or more types of acoustic patterns within the noisecontrol zone and/or to selectively increase and/or amplify the noiseenergy and/or wave amplitude of one or more other types of acousticpatterns within the noise control zone; and/or to selectively maintainand/or preserve the noise energy and/or wave amplitude of one or moreother types of acoustic patterns within the noise control zone.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ANC system may be configured tocontrol, reduce, and/or eliminate the noise energy and/or wave amplitudeof one or more of the primary patterns within the quite zone.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ANC system may be configured tocontrol, reduce, and/or eliminate noise within the noise control zone ina selective and/or configurable manner, e.g., based on one or morepredefined noise pattern attributes, such that, for example, the noiseenergy, wave amplitude, phase, frequency, direction and/or statisticalproperties of one or more first primary patterns may be affected by thesecondary pattern, while the secondary pattern may have a reduced effector even no effect on the noise energy, wave amplitude, phase, frequency,direction and/or statistical properties of one or more second primarypatterns, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the ANC system may be configured tocontrol, reduce and/or eliminate the noise energy and/or wave amplitudeof the primary patterns on a predefined envelope or enclosuresurrounding and/or enclosing the noise control zone.

In one example, the noise control zone may include a two-dimensionalzone, e.g., defining an area in which the noise energy and/or waveamplitude of one or more of the primary patterns is to be controlled,reduced and/or eliminated.

According to this example, the ANC system may be configured to control,reduce and/or eliminate the noise energy and/or wave amplitude of theprimary patterns along a perimeter surrounding the noise control zone.

In one example, the noise control zone may include a three-dimensionalzone, e.g., defining a volume in which the noise energy and/or waveamplitude of one or more of the primary patterns is to be controlled,reduced and/or eliminated. According to this example, the ANC system maybe configured to control, reduce and/or eliminate the noise energyand/or wave amplitude of the primary patterns on a surface enclosing thethree-dimensional volume.

In one example, the noise control zone may include a spherical volumeand the ANC system may be configured to control, reduce and/or eliminatethe noise energy and/or wave amplitude of the primary patterns on asurface of the spherical volume.

In another example, the noise control zone may include a cubical volumeand the ANC system may be configured to control, reduce and/or eliminatethe noise energy and/or wave amplitude of the primary patterns on asurface of the cubical volume.

In other embodiments, the noise control zone may include any othersuitable volume, which may be defined, for example, based on one or moreattributes of a location at which the noise control zone is to bemaintained.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which schematically illustrates an ANCsystem 100, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

Reference is also made to FIG. 2, which schematically illustrates adeployment scheme 200 of components of an ANC system, in accordance withsome demonstrative embodiments. For example, deployment scheme 200 mayinclude ea deployment of one or more elements of the ANC system, 100 ofFIG. 1.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 may include, operateas, and/or perform functionalities of, an Active Noise Cancelationsystem.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 may include acontroller 102 to control sound within at least one sound-control zone110, e.g., as described in detail below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 102 may include, or may beimplemented, partially or entirely, by circuitry and/or logic, e.g., oneor more processors including circuitry and/or logic, and/or memorycircuitry and/or logic. Additionally or alternatively, one or morefunctionalities of radar controller 102 may be implemented by logic,which may be executed by a machine and/or one or more processors, e.g.,as described below.

In one example, controller 102 may include at least one memory, e.g.,coupled to the one or more processors, which may be configured, forexample, to store, e.g., at least temporarily, at least some of theinformation processed by the one or more processors and/or circuitry,and/or which may be configured to store logic to be utilized by theprocessors and/or circuitry.

In one example, at least part of the functionality of controller 102 maybe implemented by an integrated circuit, for example, a chip, e.g., aSystem on Chip (SoC).

In other embodiments, controller 102 may be implemented by any otherlogic and/or circuitry, and/or according to any other architecture.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the predefined sound-control zone 110may include an enclosed space, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the enclosed space may include acabin of a vehicle, for example, a car, a bus, and/or a truck, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the enclosed space may include anyother cabin, e.g., a cabin of an airplane, a cabin of a train, a cabinof a medical system, an area of a room, and the like.

In other embodiments, the enclosed space may include any other enclosedpart or area of a space.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound-control zone 110 may be locatedinside a vehicle, and ANC system 100 may be deployed inside of thevehicle.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the vehicle may include a Heating,Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system 120 configured to controlthe microclimate inside a cabin of the vehicle.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 may be configured tocontrol sound within the vehicle based on an HVAC input 129 includingHVAC configuration information corresponding to a configuration of anoperation of HVAC system 120 of the vehicle, e.g., as described below.

Some demonstrative embodiments are described herein with respect to HVACsystem configured to heat, ventilate and/or air-condition the interiorof the vehicle. However, in other embodiments, any other systemconfigured to control or modify the microclimate inside the vehicle maybe used.

In some demonstrative embodiments, HVAC system 120 may improve userexperience, e.g., by heating, cooling, ventilation, and the like theenvironment, of a user of the vehicle, e.g., a driver or passenger,within the vehicle.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 may be configured tocontrol sound and/or noise within zone 110, for example, to provide animproved driving experience for driver and/or one or more passengers ofthe vehicle, for example, by controlling sound and/or noise within zone110 in a way which provide an improved music and/or sound experiencewithin the vehicle, an improved quality of phone conversations, and/orthe like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, HVAC system 120 may improve safety ofthe user, for example, e.g., defrost, defog, or the like, of the frontand/or rear windows.

In some demonstrative embodiments, HVAC system 120 may be operated,e.g., turned on, by the user of the vehicle, for example, after thevehicle is turned on, e.g., ignited and/or switched on, and may continueto operate, e.g., until the vehicle is turned off, or the HVAC system isturned-off or stopped fro any other reason.

In some demonstrative embodiments, HVAC system 120 may be based onand/or may include one or more air-moving devices, for example, blowers,fans, and the like, e.g., to drive air in high speed, which may create aconsiderable amount of noise.

In some demonstrative embodiments, operation of HVAC system 120 mayresult in continuous noise, e.g., at different noise profiles, duringthe entirety of, or most of, the vehicle operation time, which maycreate an acoustic disturbance and overload, for example, if the noisecreated by HVAC system 120 is not reduced or cancelled.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 may be configured toreduce or even cancel the noise created by HVAC system 120, for example,during vehicle operation time, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 may be configured toreduce or even cancel noise produced by HVAC system 120, for example,while taking into account various noise profiles of HVAC system 120,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 may be configured toreduce or even cancel noise, which is emitted from primary noise sourcesof HVAC system 120, for example, from the blower, the fan and/or thecompressor.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more elements of ANC system100 may be configured and/or deployed based one or more attributes of aphysical architecture of HVAC system 120, for example, a physicalarchitecture of one or more air ducts of HVAC system, and/or a count,location, size and/or shape of one or more air outlets of the HVACsystem 120, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 may be configured toreduce or even cancel the noise, which is emitted from secondary noisesources of HVAC system 120. For example, since air ducts in HVAC system120 may not be straight, a bend or curve of the ducts may createadditional noise sources.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 may be configured toreduce or even cancel noise created by any other configuration,architecture, layout and/or shape of the air ducts.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control zone 110 may include athree-dimensional (3D) zone. For example, sound control zone 110 mayinclude a spherical zone.

In another example, sound control zone 110 may include any other 3Dzone.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC controller 102 may include, ormay be implemented with, an input 191, which may be configured toreceive input information 195, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the input information 195 may includethe HVAC input 129 including HVAC configuration informationcorresponding to the configuration of an operation of HVAC system 120 ofthe vehicle, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, input 191 may be configured toreceive the HVAC input 129 via a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus ofthe vehicle, an A to B (A2B) bus of the vehicle, a Media OrientedSystems Transport (MOST) bus of the vehicle, and/or an Ethernet bus ofthe vehicle.

In other embodiments, input 191 may be configured to receive the HVACinput 129 via a wired link or connection, a wireless link or connection,and/or any other communication mechanism, connection, link, bus and/orinterface.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the input information 195 may includea plurality of noise inputs 104, e.g., from one or more acoustic sensors(also referred to as “primary sensors”, “noise sensors” or “referencesensors”) 119, representing acoustic noise at a plurality of predefinednoise sensing locations 105, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of noise sensinglocations 105 may include a plurality of HVAC noise sensing locations,which are defined with respect to one or more components of the HVACsystem 120, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of HVAC noise sensinglocations may include a location of a blower of the HVAC system 120, alocation of a fan of the HVAC system 120, a location of a compressor ofthe HVAC system 120, a location of an air outlet of the HVAC system 120,and/or a location in an air duct of the HVAC system 120, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of HVAC noise sensinglocations may include a location of a curved portion of an air duct ofthe HVAC system, e.g., as described below.

In other embodiments, the plurality of HVAC noise sensing locations mayinclude any other additional or alternative location of any othercomponent of HVAC system 120.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of noise sensinglocations 105 may include one or more other noise sensing locations 105at one or more other locations, e.g., which are independent of and/orunrelated to components of the HVAC system 120.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC controller 102 may receive noiseinputs 104 from one or more acoustic sensors 119, which may include oneor more physical sensors, e.g., microphones, accelerometers, tachometersand the like, located at one or more of locations 105, and/or one ormore virtual sensors configured to estimate the acoustic noise at one ormore of locations 105, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the input information 195 may includea plurality of residual-noise inputs 106 e.g., from one or moreresidual-noise acoustic sensors (also referred to as “error sensors”, or“secondary sensors”) 121, representing acoustic residual-noise at aplurality of predefined residual-noise sensing locations 107, which arelocated within sound-control zone 110, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC controller 102 may receiveresidual-noise inputs 106 from one or more acoustic sensors 121, whichmay include one or more physical sensors, e.g., microphones,accelerometers tachometers and the like, located at one or more oflocations 107, and/or from one or more virtual sensors configured toestimate the residual-noise at one or more of locations 107, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 may include at leastone acoustic transducer 108, e.g., a speaker, a shaker, and/or any otheractuator. For example, ANC controller 102 may control acoustictransducer 108 to generate an acoustic sound control pattern configuredto control the sound within sound control zone 110, e.g., as describedin detail below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC controller 102 may include acontroller 193 configured to determine the sound control pattern tocontrol sound within the at least one sound control zone 110 in thevehicle, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern based on the HVAC input 129, theplurality of noise inputs 104 and the plurality of residual-noiseinputs, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC controller 102 may include anoutput 197 to output the sound control pattern to a plurality ofacoustic transducers. For example, output 197 may be configured tooutput the sound control pattern in the form of a sound control signal109 to control acoustic transducer 108, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the HVAC input 129 may include HVACconfiguration information including HVAC mode information correspondingto a mode of operation of the HVAC system 120, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the HVAC mode information maycorrespond to an HVAC heating mode, an HVAC cooling mode, an HVACdefrosting mode, an HVAC fan mode, an HVAC ventilation mode, an HVAC drymode, and/or an HVAC defogging mode, e.g., as described below.

In other embodiments, the HVAC mode information may correspond to anyother additional or alternative mode of operation of HVAC system 120.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern for sound control signal 109, forexample, based on the HVAC mode information, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the HVAC input 129 may include HVACconfiguration information including HVAC fan information correspondingto an operation of a blower or fan of the HVAC system, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the HVAC fan information maycorrespond to a fan turbo mode, a fan quit mode, and/or a fan speed.

In other embodiments, the HVAC fan information may correspond to anyother additional or alternative mode of operation of the fan and/orblower of the HVAC system 120.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern for sound control signal 109, forexample, based on the HVAC fan information, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the HVAC input 129 may include HVACconfiguration information including HVAC climate informationcorresponding to a climate setting of the HVAC system 120, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the HVAC climate information maycorrespond to a temperature setting, and/or a humidity setting.

In other embodiments, the HVAC climate information may correspond to anyother additional or alternative climate setting of the HVAC system 120.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern for sound control signal 109, forexample, based on the HVAC climate information, e.g., as describedbelow.

In other embodiments, the HVAC input 129 may include any otheradditional or alternative HVAC configuration information correspondingto any other additional or alternative configuration of the operation ofthe HVAC system.

In other embodiments, controller 193 may be configured to determine thesound control pattern for sound control signal 109 based on any otheradditional or alternative HVAC configuration information correspondingto any other additional or alternative configuration of the operation ofthe HVAC system.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern for sound control signal 109 basedon the HVAC input 129, for example, such that the sound control patternis to reduce or eliminate noise from the HVAC system 120 in the at leastone sound control zone 110, e.g., as described below.

In other embodiments, controller 193 may be configured to determine thesound control pattern for sound control signal 109 based on the HVACinput 129 according to any other sound control scheme, e.g., to reduceor eliminate some of the noise from the HVAC system 120, and/or toaffect the noise from the HVAC system 120 in any other manner.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine a first sound control pattern based on first HVACconfiguration information representing a first configuration of theoperation of the HVAC system 120, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine a second sound control pattern, different from the first soundcontrol pattern, based on second HVAC configuration informationrepresenting a second configuration of the operation of the HVAC system120, which is different from the first configuration of the operation ofthe HVAC system 120, e.g., as described below.

In one example, the first and second configurations of the operation ofthe HVAC system 120 may both have a same mode of operation with one ormore other different configurations, e.g., a fan setting, a climatesetting, and/or any other mode or setting.

For example, the first sound control pattern may be based on the HVACconfiguration information representing a heating mode of operation at afirst fan speed setting, and/or the second sound control pattern may bebased on the HVAC configuration information representing the heatingmode of operation at a second fan speed setting.

In another example, the first and second configurations of the operationof the HVAC system 120 may have different modes of operation.

For example, the first sound control pattern may be based on the HVACconfiguration information representing a heating mode of operation,and/or the second sound control pattern may be based on the HVACconfiguration information representing a cooling mode of operation.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todynamically update the sound control pattern for sound control signal109, for example, based on a change in the HVAC configurationinformation representing a change in the configuration of the operationof the HVAC system, e.g., as described below.

For example, controller 193 may be configured to dynamically monitor theHVAC input 129 to detect, e.g., in real time, changes in the HVACconfiguration information.

For example, controller 193 may be configured to dynamically update thesound control pattern for sound control signal 109, e.g., in real time,for example, based on the detected changes in the HVAC configurationinformation.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine a setting of one or more sound control parameters based on theHVAC input 129, and to determine the sound control pattern based on thesetting of the one or more sound control parameters, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine the setting of the one or more sound control parameters basedon an HVAC noise control profile which may be based on HVAC input 129,e.g., as described below.

In other embodiments, controller 193 may be configured to determine thesetting of the one or more sound control parameters based on any otheradditional or alternative criterion relating to HVAC input 129.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine an HVAC noise control profile based on the HVAC configurationinformation, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern for sound control signal 109 basedon the HVAC noise control profile, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the HVAC noise control profile mayinclude a setting of one or more sound control parameters, which may beutilized in determining the sound control pattern for sound controlsignal 109, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine the sound control pattern for sound control signal 109, forexample, based on the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC controller 102 may include amemory 198 to store a plurality of HVAC noise control profiles 199,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of HVAC noise controlprofiles 199 may be configured corresponding to a plurality of HVACoperation configurations of HVAC systems 120, respectively, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, an HVAC noise control profile 199 mayinclude a setting of one or more sound control parameters correspondingto an HVAC operation configuration of the plurality of HVAC operationconfigurations of HVAC system 120, e.g., as described below.

In one example, a first HVAC noise control profile 199 may correspond toa first HVAC operation configuration of HVAC system 120, for example, aheating mode of operation at a first fan speed setting. According tothis example, a first HVAC noise control profile 199 corresponding tothe first HVAC operation configuration of HVAC system 120 may include,for example, a first setting of one or more sound control parameters.For example, the first setting of the one or more sound controlparameters may be configured for sound control to be applied forhandling noise to be generated by the HVAC system, e.g., when operatedat the heating mode of operation at the first fan speed setting.

In another example, a second HVAC noise control profile 199 maycorrespond to a second HVAC operation configuration of HVAC system 120,for example, a cooling mode of operation at a second fan speed setting.According to this example, a second HVAC noise control profile 199corresponding to the second HVAC operation configuration of HVAC system120 may include, for example, a second setting of one or more soundcontrol parameters. For example, the second setting of the one or moresound control parameters may be configured for sound control to beapplied for handling noise to be generated by the HVAC system, e.g.,when operated at the cooling mode of operation at the second fan speedsetting.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured toselect from the plurality of HVAC noise control profiles 199 a selectedHVAC noise control profile, for example, based on the HVAC configurationinformation of HVAC input 129, and to determine the sound controlpattern for the sound control signal 109, for example, based on theselected HVAC noise control profile, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the setting of the one or more soundcontrol parameters may include a prediction filter (PF) setting fordetermining the sound control pattern based on the plurality of noiseinputs 104 and the plurality of residual-noise inputs 106, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the setting of the one or more soundcontrol parameters may include a prediction filter weight vector to beapplied for determining the sound control pattern based on the pluralityof noise inputs 104 and the plurality of residual-noise inputs 106,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the setting of the one or more soundcontrol parameters may include an update rate parameter for updating theprediction filter weight vector, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the setting of the one or more soundcontrol parameters may include one or more path transfer functions,e.g., including one or more Speaker Transfer Functions (STFs), to beapplied for determining the sound control pattern based on the pluralityof noise inputs 104 and the plurality of residual-noise inputs 106,e.g., as described below.

In other embodiments, the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters may include a setting of one or more additional oralternative parameters, weights, coefficients, and/or functions to beapplied for determining the sound control pattern based on the pluralityof noise inputs 104 and the plurality of residual-noise inputs 106.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the at least one acoustic transducer108 may include, for example, an array of one or more acoustictransducers, e.g., at least one suitable speaker, to produce the soundcontrol pattern based on sound control signal 109.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the at least one acoustic transducer108 may be positioned at one or more locations, which may be determinedbased on one or more attributes of sound control zone 110, e.g., a sizeand/or shape of zone 110, one or more expected attributes inputs 104,one or more expected attributes of one or more potential actual noisesources 202, e.g., an expected location and/or directionality of noisesources 202 relative to sound control zone 110, a number of noisesources 202, and the like.

In one example, acoustic transducer 108 may include a speaker arrayincluding a predefined number, denoted M, of speakers or a multichannelacoustical source. In some demonstrative embodiments, acoustictransducer 108 may include an array of speakers implemented using asuitable “compact acoustical source” positioned at a suitable location,e.g., external to zone 110. In another example, the array of speakersmay be implemented using a plurality of speakers distributed in space,e.g., around sound control zone 110.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more of locations 105 may bedistributed in any combination of locations on and/or external to thespherical volume, e.g., one or more locations surrounding the sphericalvolume, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more locations 105 may bedistributed externally to sound control zone 110. For example, one ormore of locations 105 may be distributed on, or in proximity to, anenvelope or enclosure surrounding sound control zone 110.

For example, if sound control zone 110 is defined by a spherical volume,then one or more of locations 105 may be distributed on a surface of thespherical volume and/or external to the spherical volume.

In some demonstrative embodiments, locations 107 may be distributedwithin sound control zone 110, for example, in proximity to the envelopeof sound control zone 110.

For example, if zone 110 is defined by a spherical volume, thenlocations 107 may be distributed on a spherical surface having a radius,which is lesser than a radius of sound control zone 110.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 may include one ormore first acoustic sensors (“primary sensors”) to sense the acousticnoise at one or more of the plurality of noise sensing locations 105.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 may include one ormore second acoustic sensors (“error sensors”) to sense the acousticresidual-noise at one or more of the plurality of residual-noise sensinglocations 107.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more of the error sensorsand/or one or more of the primary sensors may be implemented using oneor more “virtual sensors” (“virtual microphones”). A virtual microphonecorresponding to a particular microphone location may be implemented byany suitable algorithm and/or method capable of evaluating an acousticpattern, which would have be sensed by an actual acoustic sensor locatedat the particular microphone location.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 102 may be configured tosimulate and/or perform the functionality of the virtual microphone,e.g., by estimating and/or evaluating the acoustic noise pattern at theparticular location of the virtual microphone.

In some demonstrative embodiments, an ANC system e.g., ANC system 100(FIG. 1), may include a first array 219 of one or more primary sensors,e.g., microphones, accelerometers, tachometers and the like, configuredto sense the primary patterns at one or more of locations 105. Forexample, array 219 may include a plurality of acoustic sensors 119 (FIG.1). For example, array 219 may include a microphone to output a noisesignal 104 (FIG. 1) including, for example, a sequence of N samples persecond. For example, N may be 48000 samples per second, e.g., if themicrophone operates at a sampling rate of about 48 KHz. The noise signal104 (FIG. 1) may include any other suitable signal having any othersuitable sampling rate and/or any other suitable attributes.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least some of the primary sensors219, e.g., acoustic sensors 119 (FIG. 1), may be configured to sense theprimary patterns at the plurality of HVAC noise sensing locations, whichare defined with respect to one or more components of the HVAC system120 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more of the sensors of array219 may be implemented using one or more “virtual sensors”. For example,array 219 may be implemented by a combination of at least one microphoneand at least one virtual microphone. A virtual microphone correspondingto a particular microphone location of locations 105 may be implementedby any suitable algorithm and/or method, e.g., as part of controller 102(FIG. 1) or any other element of system 100 (FIG. 1), capable ofevaluating an acoustic pattern, which would have be sensed by anacoustic sensor located at the particular microphone location. Forexample, controller 102 (FIG. 1) may be configured to evaluate theacoustic pattern of the virtual microphone based on at least one actualacoustic pattern sensed by the at least one microphone 119 (FIG. 1) ofarray 219.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 (FIG. 1) may include asecond array 221 of one or more error sensors, e.g., microphones,configured to sense the acoustic residual-noise at one or more oflocations 107. For example, array 221 may include a plurality ofacoustic sensors 121 (FIG. 1). For example, the error sensors mayinclude one or more sensors to sense the acoustic residual-noisepatterns on a spherical surface within spherical sound control zone 110.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more of the sensors of array221 may be implemented using one or more “virtual sensors”. For example,array 221 may include a combination of at least one microphone and atleast one virtual microphone. A virtual microphone corresponding to aparticular microphone location of locations 107 may be implemented byany suitable algorithm and/or method, e.g., as part of controller 102(FIG. 1) or any other element of system 100 (FIG. 1), capable ofevaluating an acoustic pattern, which would have be sensed by anacoustic sensor located at the particular microphone location. Forexample, controller 102 (FIG. 1) may be configured to evaluate theacoustic pattern of the virtual microphone based on at least one actualacoustic pattern sensed by the at least one microphone 121 (FIG. 1) ofarray 221.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the number, location and/ordistribution of the locations 105 and/or 107, and/or the number,location and/or distribution of one or more acoustic sensors at one ormore of locations 105 and 107 may be determined based on a size of soundcontrol zone 110 or of an envelope of sound control zone 110, a shape ofsound control zone 110 or of the envelope of sound control zone 110, oneor more attributes of the acoustic sensors to be located at one or moreof locations 105 and/or 107, e.g., a sampling rate of the sensors, andthe like.

In one example, one or more acoustic sensors, e.g., microphones,accelerometers, tachometers and the like, may be deployed at locations105 and/or 107 according to the Spatial Sampling Theorem, e.g., asdefined below by Equation 1.

For example, a number of the primary sensors, a distance between theprimary sensors, a number of the error sensors and/or a distance betweenthe error sensors may be determined in accordance with the SpatialSampling Theorem, e.g., as defined below by Equation 1.

In one example, the primary sensors and/or the error sensors may bedistributed, e.g., equally or non-equally distributed, with a distance,denoted d, from one another. For example, the distance d may bedetermined as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{d \leq \frac{c}{2 \cdot f}} & (1)\end{matrix}$

wherein c denotes the speed of sound and f_(max) denotes a maximalfrequency at which sound control is desired.

For example, in case the maximal frequency of interest is f_(max)100[Hz], the distance d may be determined as

${d \leq \frac{343}{2 \cdot 100}} = {{1.7}{{1\lbrack m\rbrack}.}}$

As shown in FIG. 2 deployment scheme 200 is configured with respect to acircular or spherical sound control zone 110. For example, one or morelocations 105 are distributed, e.g., substantially evenly distributed,in a spherical or circular manner around sound control zone 110, andlocations 107 are distributed, e.g., substantially evenly distributed,in a spherical or circular manner within sound control zone 110.

However in other embodiments, components of ANC system 100 (FIG. 1) maybe deployed according to any other deployment scheme including anysuitable distribution of locations 105 and/or 107, e.g., configured withrespect a sound control zone of any other suitable form and/or shape.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 102 (FIG. 1) may beconfigured to determine the sound control pattern to be reducedaccording to at least one noise parameter, e.g., energy, amplitude,phase, frequency, direction, and/or statistical properties within soundcontrol zone 110, e.g., as described in detail below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 102 (FIG. 1) may determinethe sound control pattern to selectively reduce one or more predefinedfirst noise patterns within sound control zone 110, while not reducingone or more second noise patterns within sound control zone 110, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiment, sound control zone 110 may be locatedwithin an interior of a vehicle, and controller 102 (FIG. 1) maydetermine the sound control pattern to selectively reduce one or morefirst noise patterns, e.g., including a road noise pattern, a wind noisepattern, and/or an engine noise pattern, while not reducing one or moresecond noise patterns, e.g., including an audio noise pattern of anaudio device located within the vehicle, a horn noise pattern, a sirennoise pattern, a hazard noise pattern of a hazard, an alarm noisepattern of an alarm signal, a noise pattern of an informational signal,and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 102 (FIG. 1) may determinethe sound control pattern without having information relating to one ormore noise-source attributes of one or more of actual noise sources 202generating the acoustic noise at the noise sensing locations 105.

For example, the noise-source attributes may include a number of noisesources 202, a location of noise sources 202, a type of noise sources202 and/or one or more attributes of one or more noise patternsgenerated by one or more of noise sources 202.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, controller193 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern for soundcontrol signal 109 based on the HVAC input 129, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more sensors of ANC system 100may be located at one or more points inside HVAC system 120, e.g., nearthe blower and/or fan, near the compressor, inside the air ducts, and/ornear the vent outlets, for example, to enable ANC system 100 toefficiently reduce or even cancel the noise produced by HVAC system 120,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, reducing the noise created by HVACsystem 120, e.g., by ANC system 100, may create an improved userexperience of the user of the vehicle, may reduce health hazards, and/ormay enhance driver attention, e.g., by reducing a cognitive overloadcaused by the noise.

In some demonstrative embodiments, reducing the noise created by HVACsystem 120, e.g., by ANC system 100, may allow, for example, an improvedvoice recognition, improved speech, and/or an improved In CarCommunication (ICC) between users of the vehicle.

In some demonstrative embodiments, ANC system 100 may be configured toreceive and process the HVAC input 129 from HVAC system 120, forexample, via input 191, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, HVAC input 129 may include HVACconfiguration information of HVAC system 120, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the HVAC configuration informationmay include a mode of operation of HVAC system 120. For example, theHVAC configuration information may indicate heating, cooling,defrosting, e.g., rear or front window, dry mode, defogging, fan mode,and the like. In another example, the HVAC configuration information mayinclude any other additional or alternative mode of operation.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the HVAC configuration informationmay include a fan mode of one or more fans of HVAC system 120. Forexample, the HVAC configuration information may include a turbo mode, aquiet mode, a speed, or level of speed of one or more fans, and/or thelike. In another example, the HVAC configuration information may includeany other additional or alternative fan parameters.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the HVAC configuration informationmay include climate parameters. For example, the HVAC configurationinformation may include a temperature, a humidity level, and/or thelike. In another example, the HVAC configuration information may includeany other additional or alternative climate parameters.

In other embodiments, the HVAC configuration information may include anyother additional or alternative parameter, attribute, or metrics of theHVAC system 120.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine the sound control signal 109, for example, based on HVAC input129, for example, in addition to noise inputs 104 and residual-noiseinputs 106, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured tooutput sound control signal 109 to control acoustic transducer 108, forexample, to reduce or cancel the noise produced by HVAC system 120,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may determine soundcontrol signal 109, for example, by applying an estimation function orprediction function on noise inputs 104 and/or residual-noise inputs106, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may include anestimator (also referred to as a “prediction unit”) configured to applythe estimation or prediction function to noise inputs 104 and/orresidual-noise inputs 106, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured tocause the estimator or prediction unit to utilize one or more predictionparameters, e.g., for the estimation function, for example, based on theHVAC input 129, e.g., as described below.

In one example, controller 193 may be configured to determine a firstset of prediction parameters for a first HVAC configuration of HVACsystem 120. For example, the first HVAC configuration may includeheating, and maximal fan speed.

In another example, controller 193 may be configured to determine asecond set of prediction parameters for a second HVAC configuration ofHVAC system 120. For example, the second HVAC configuration may includedefogging front window, and minimal fan speed.

In some demonstrative embodiments, HVAC system 120 may have severalmodes of operation, for example, cooling, heating, ventilation, defrost,defog, and the like. For example, a mode of operation, e.g., each modeof operation, may have its own noise profile and/or spectrum. Accordingto this example, one or more filters, e.g., one or more specificfilters, may be calculated and used for each operation mode separately,for example, in order to obtain a maximal noise cancellation for alloperation modes.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for a mode, e.g., for each mode,there may be several fan speeds. For example, each fan speed may producedifferent noise. Accordingly, controller 193 may be configured todetermine the one or more filters, for example, to optimize active noisecancellation for the different fan speeds.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured toupdate or change the sound control signal 109, for example, when theHVAC configuration information is changed, e.g., as described below.

For example, controller 193 may be configured to update or change thesound control signal 109, for example, based on a detected change of theHVAC configuration, for example, when the user changes the HVACconfiguration and/or when the HVAC configuration is automaticallychanges by one or more components of the HVAC system 120 and/or byanother system of the vehicle.

In one example, ANC controller 102 may be configured to change betweencorresponding filters according to the HVAC configuration information,e.g., received via HVAC input 129, for example, when the HVAC system 120shifts between the operation modes, e.g., during vehicle operation.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may determine one ormore prediction parameters for an HVAC configuration, for example, basedon a Look Up Table (LUT), e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments LUT may be configured to map aplurality of HVAC configurations and a plurality of settings for theprediction parameters,

In one example, the LU maybe configured to match between firstprediction parameters and first HVAC configuration, and/or the LUT maymatch between second prediction parameters, e.g., different from thefirst prediction parameters, and a second HVAC configuration, e.g.,different from the first HVAC configuration.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may determine the oneor more prediction parameters for the HVAC configuration, for example,based on any other additional or alternative algorithm, method,function, and/or procedure.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the prediction parameters may includeweights, coefficients, functions, and/or any other additional oralternative parameter to be utilized for determining the sound controlpattern, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the prediction parameters may includeone or more path transfer function parameters of the estimation orprediction function, e.g., as described below. In one example, theprediction parameters may include one or more STFs to be applied bycontroller 193 for determining the sound control pattern. The STFs mayinclude a representation of acoustic paths from one or more of theacoustic transducers 108 to one or more of the noise sensing locations105.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the prediction parameters may includeone or more update rate parameters corresponding to an updating rate ofthe weighs of the estimation or prediction function, e.g., as describedbelow.

In other embodiments, the prediction parameters may include any otheradditional or alternative parameters.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine, set, adapt and/or update one or more of the STFs based onchanges in the HVAC configuration indicated by the HVAC input 129, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured todetermine, set, adapt and/or update one or more of the predictionparameters based on changes in the HVAC configuration indicated by theHVAC input 129, e.g., as described below.

In one example, controller 193 may be configured to detect a change in atemperature setting of the HVAC system 120 based on HVAC input 129, and,based on the detected change, to selectively increase/decrease one ormore Speaker Transfer Function (STF) coefficients; to change frequencybands of the STF and/or PF, for example, to change a frequency band ofadaptation to a targeted HVAC scenario; to modify an adaptation rate,and/or to modify one or more other settings and/or parameters forgenerating the sound control signal 109.

In another example, controller 193 may be configured to detect a changein a re-circulation or outside-air mode of the HVAC system 120 based onHVAC input 129, and, based on the detected change, to selectivelyincrease/decrease one or more STF coefficients; to change frequencybands of the STF and/or PF, for example, to change a frequency band ofadaptation to a targeted HVAC scenario; to modify an adaptation rate;and/or to modify one or more other settings and/or parameters forgenerating the sound control signal 109.

In another example, controller 193 may be configured to detect a changein a blower speed of the HVAC system 120 based on HVAC input 129, and,based on the detected change, to selectively increase/decrease one ormore STF coefficients; to change frequency bands of the STF and/or PF,for example, to change a frequency band of adaptation to a targeted HVACscenario; to modify an adaptation rate; and/or to modify one or moreother settings and/or parameters for generating the sound control signal109.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured toextract from the plurality of noise inputs 104 a plurality of disjointreference acoustic patterns, which are statistically independent.

For example, controller 193 may include an extractor to extract theplurality of disjoint reference acoustic patterns.

The phrase “disjoint acoustic patterns” as used herein may refer to aplurality of acoustic patterns, which are independent with respect to atleast one feature and/or attribute, e.g., energy, amplitude, phase,frequency, direction, one or more statistical signal properties, and thelike.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may extract theplurality of disjoint reference acoustic patterns by applying apredefined extraction function to the plurality of noise inputs 104.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the extraction of the disjointacoustic patterns may be used, for example, to model the primary patternof inputs 104 as a combination of the predefined number of disjointacoustic patterns, e.g., corresponding to a respective number ofdisjoint modeled acoustic sources.

In one example, it may be expected that one or more expected noisepatterns, which are expected to affect sound control zone 110, may begenerated by one or more of road noise, wind noise, engine noise and thelike. Accordingly, controller 193 may be configured to select one ormore reference acoustic patterns based on one or more attributes of theroad noise pattern, the wind noise pattern, and/or the engine noisepattern.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which schematically illustrates acontroller 300, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. Insome embodiments, ANC controller 102 (FIG. 1) and/or controller 193(FIG. 1) may perform, for example, one or more functionalities and/oroperations of controller 300.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 300 may receive an HVACinput 329, e.g., including the HVAC configuration information of HVACsystem 120 (FIG. 1).

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 300 may receive aplurality of inputs 304, e.g., including inputs 104 (FIG. 1),representing acoustic noise at a plurality of predefined noise sensinglocations, e.g., locations 105 (FIG. 2). Controller 300 may generate asound control signal 312 to control at least one acoustic transducer314, e.g., acoustic transducer 108 (FIG. 1).

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 300 may include anestimator (“prediction unit”) 310 to estimate signal 312 by applying anestimation function to an input 308 corresponding to inputs 304.

In some demonstrative embodiments, estimator 310 may estimate signal312, for example, based on HVAC input 329, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, e.g., as shown in FIG. 3, controller300 may include an extractor 306 to extract a plurality of disjointreference acoustic patterns from inputs 304. According to theseembodiments, input 308 may include the plurality of disjoint referenceacoustic patterns.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 300 may generate signal312 configured to reduce and/or eliminate the noise produced by HVACsystem 120.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 300 may generate soundcontrol signal 312 configured to reduce and/or eliminate the noiseenergy and/or wave amplitude of one or more sound patterns within thesound control zone, while the noise energy and/or wave amplitude of oneor more other sound patterns may not be affected within the soundcontrol zone.

In some demonstrative embodiments, sound control signal 312 may beconfigured to reduce and/or eliminate the noise produced by HVAC system120 (FIG. 1).

In other embodiments, controller 300 may not include extractor 306.Accordingly, input 308 may include inputs 304 and/or any other inputbased on inputs 304.

In some demonstrative embodiments, estimator 310 may apply any suitablelinear and/or non-linear function to input 308. For example, theestimation function may include a non-linear estimation function, e.g.,a radial basis function.

In some demonstrative embodiments, estimator 310 may be able to adaptone or more parameters of the estimation function based on a pluralityof residual-noise inputs 316 representing acoustic residual-noise at aplurality of predefined residual-noise sensing locations, which arelocated within the noise-control zone. For example, inputs 316 mayinclude inputs 106 (FIG. 1) representing acoustic residual-noise atresidual-noise sensing locations 107 (FIG. 2), which are located withinnoise-control zone 110 (FIG. 2).

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more of inputs 316 may includeat least one virtual microphone input corresponding to a residual noise(“noise error”) sensed by at least one virtual error sensor at least oneparticular residual-noise sensor location of locations 107 (FIG. 2). Forexample, controller 300 may evaluate the noise error at the particularresidual-noise sensor location based on inputs 308 and the predictednoise signal 312, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, estimator 310 may include amulti-input-multi-output (MIMO) prediction unit configured, for example,to generate a plurality of sound control patterns corresponding to then-th sample, e.g., including M control patterns, denoted y₁(n) . . .y_(M)(n), to drive a plurality of M respective acoustic transducers,e.g., based on the inputs 308.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which schematically illustrates a MIMOprediction unit 400, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.In some demonstrative embodiments, estimator 310 (FIG. 3) may includeMIMO prediction unit 400, and/or perform one or more functionalities of,and/or operations of, MIMO prediction unit 400.

As shown in FIG. 4, prediction unit 400 may be configured to receive anHVAC input 429 including the HVAC configuration information from HVACsystem 120 (FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 4, prediction unit 400 may be configured to receive aninput 412 including the vector Ŝ[n], e.g., as output from extractor 306(FIG. 3), and to drive a loudspeaker array 402 including M acoustictransducers, e.g., acoustic transducers 108 (FIG. 2). For example,prediction unit 400 may generate a controller output 401 including the Msound control patterns y₁(n) . . . y_(M)(n), to drive a plurality of Mrespective acoustic transducers, e.g., acoustic transducers 108 (FIG.2), for example, based on the inputs 308.

In some demonstrative embodiments, interference (cross-talk) between twoor more of the M acoustic transducers of array 402 may occur, forexample, when two or more, e.g., all of, the M acoustic transducersgenerate the control noise pattern, e.g., simultaneously.

In some demonstrative embodiments, prediction unit 400 may generateoutput 401 configured to control array 402 to generate a substantiallyoptimal sound control pattern, e.g., while simultaneously optimizing theinput signals to each speaker in array 402. For example, prediction unit400 may control the multi-channel speakers of array 402, e.g., whilecancelling the interface between the speakers.

In one example, prediction unit 400 may utilize a linear function withmemory. For example, prediction unit 400 may determine a sound controlpattern, denoted y_(m)[n], corresponding to an m-th speaker of array 402with respect to the n-th sample of the primary pattern, e.g., asfollows:

$\begin{matrix}{{y_{m}\lbrack n\rbrack} = {\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{K}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{l - 1}{{w_{k\; m}\lbrack i\rbrack}{s_{k}\lbrack {n - i} \rbrack}}}}} & (2)\end{matrix}$

wherein S_(k)[n] denotes the k-th disjoint reference acoustic pattern,e.g., received from extractor 306 (FIG. 3), and w_(km)[i] denotes aprediction filter coefficient configured to drive the m-th speaker basedon the k-th disjoint reference acoustic pattern, e.g., as describedbelow.

In another example, prediction unit 400 may implement any other suitableprediction algorithm, e.g., linear, or non-linear, having or not havingmemory, and the like, to determine the output 401.

In some demonstrative embodiments, prediction unit 400 may optimize theprediction filter coefficients w_(km)[i], for example, based on aplurality of a plurality of residual-noise inputs 404, e.g., including aplurality of residual-noise inputs 316. For example, prediction unit 400may optimize the prediction filter coefficient w_(km)[i], for example,to achieve maximal destructive interference at the residual-errorsensing e₁[n],e₂[n], . . . , e_(L)[n], H locations 107 (FIG. 2). Forexample, locations 107 may include L locations, and inputs 404 mayinclude L residual noise components, denoted e₁[n],e₂[n], . . . ,e_(L)[n].

In some demonstrative embodiments, prediction unit 400 may optimize oneor more of, e.g., some or all of, the prediction filter coefficientsw_(km)[i] based, for example, on a minimum mean square error (MMSE)criterion, or any other suitable criteria. For example, a cost function,denoted J, for optimization of one or more, of, e.g., some or all of,the prediction filter coefficients w_(km)[i] may be defined, forexample, as a total energy of the residual noise components e₁[n],e₂[n],. . . ,e_(L) [n] at locations 107 (FIG. 2), e.g., as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{J = {E\{ {\sum\limits_{l = 1}^{L}{e_{l}^{2}\lbrack n\rbrack}} \}}} & (3)\end{matrix}$

In some demonstrative embodiments, a residual noise pattern, denotede_(l)[n], at an 1-th location may be expressed, for example, as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{e_{l}\lbrack n\rbrack} = {{{d_{l}\lbrack n\rbrack} - {\sum\limits_{m = 1}^{M}{\sum\limits_{j = 0}^{J - 1}{{{stf}_{l\; m}\lbrack j\rbrack} \cdot {y_{m}\lbrack {n - j} \rbrack}}}}} = {{d_{l}\lbrack n\rbrack} - {\sum\limits_{m = 1}^{M}{\sum\limits_{j = 0}^{J - 1}{{{stf}_{lmj}\lbrack j\rbrack} \cdot {\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{K}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{l - 1}{{w_{k\; m}\lbrack i\rbrack}{s_{k}\lbrack {n - i} \rbrack}}}}}}}}}} & (4)\end{matrix}$

wherein stf_(im)[j] denotes a path transfer function having Jcoefficients from the m-th speaker of the array 402 at a l-th location;and w_(km)[n] denotes an adaptive weight vector of the prediction filterwith I coefficients representing the relationship between the k-threference acoustic pattern s_(k)[n] and the control signal of the m-thspeaker.

In some demonstrative embodiments, prediction unit 400 may optimize oneor more elements of, e.g., some or all elements of, the adaptive weightsvector w_(km)[n], e.g., to reach an optimal point, e.g., a maximal noisereduction, e.g., of the noise produced by HVAC system 120 (FIG. 1). Forexample, prediction unit 400 may implement a gradient based adaptionmethod, when at each step the weight vector w_(km)[n] is updated in anegative direction of a gradient of the cost function J, e.g., asfollows:

$\begin{matrix}{{{w_{k\; m}\lbrack {n + 1} \rbrack} = {{w_{k\; m}\lbrack n\rbrack} - {\frac{\mu_{k\; m}}{2} \cdot {\nabla J_{k\; m}}}}}{{\nabla J_{k\; m}} = {{- 2}{\sum\limits_{l = 1}^{L}{{e_{l}\lbrack n\rbrack}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{l - 1}{{{stf}_{k\; m}\lbrack n\rbrack}{x_{k}\lbrack {n - i} \rbrack}}}}}}}{{w_{k\; m}\lbrack {n + 1} \rbrack} = {{w_{k\; m}\lbrack n\rbrack} + {\mu_{k\; m} \cdot {\sum\limits_{l = 1}^{L}{{e_{l}\lbrack n\rbrack}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{l - 1}{{{stf}_{k\; m}\lbrack n\rbrack}{x_{k}\lbrack {n - i} \rbrack}}}}}}}}} & (5)\end{matrix}$

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, controller193 may be configured to update one or more parameters of Equations 3, 4and/or 5, for example, based on HVAC input 129, e.g., as describedbelow.

In other embodiments, controller 193 (FIG. 1) may be configured toupdate one or more other additional or alternative parameters forprediction unit 400 (FIG. 4) and/or estimator 310 (FIG. 3).

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may be configured toupdate the one or more parameters of Equations 3, 4 and/or 5, forexample, based on HVAC input 129, for example, to generate controlleroutput 401 (FIG. 4), which may be configured to reduce or cancel thenoise produces by HVAC system 120.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may update one or morepath transfer functions stf_(im)[j] in Equations 4 and/or 5, forexample, based on HVAC input 129.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 193 may update one or moreof the update rate parameters μ_(km) in Equation 5, for example, basedon HVAC input 129.

In one example, controller 193 may be configured to use one or moreupdate rate parameters μ_(km), for example, some or all of, the updaterate parameters μ_(km). For example, a set of update rate parametersμ_(km) may be determined or preconfigured based on the HVAC input 129,for example, based on the mode of operation of HVAC system 120 and/orone or more parameters of the mode of operation of HVAC system 120,e.g., as described above.

Reference is made to FIG. 5, which schematically illustrates animplementation of a controller 500 in an ANC system, in accordance withsome demonstrative embodiments. For example, controller 193 (FIG. 1),controller 300 (FIG. 3) and/or prediction unit 400 (FIG. 4) may includeone or more elements of controller 500 (FIG. 5) and/or may perform oneor more operations and/or functionalities of controller 500.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 500 may be configured toreceive inputs 512 including residual noise from a plurality ofMicrophones (RMIC), and to generate output signals 501 to drive aspeaker array 502 including M acoustic transducers, e.g., three speakersor any other number of speakers. For example, the inputs 512 may includeinputs 106 (FIG. 1), inputs 316 (FIG. 3) and/or inputs 404 (FIG. 4).

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 500 may be configured toconfigure, determine, update and/or set one or parameters of PredictionFilters, denoted PF, for example, based on HVAC input 129 (FIG. 1),e.g., as described above.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, sensors ofANC system 100 may be located within one or more predefined location ina vehicle.

In some demonstrative embodiments, determining a location of sensors,e.g., reference microphones, inside and/or near components of the HVACsystem 120 may support a technical advantage of improved and/orefficient active noise reduction, for example, to achieve an optimalperformance of ANC system 100, e.g., as described below.

Reference is made to FIG. 6, which schematically illustrates adeployment of components of an ANC system 600 in a vehicle, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 6, ANC system 600 may include a plurality of speakers608, a plurality of reference microphones 604, and a plurality of errormicrophones 606. For example, ANC controller 102 (FIG. 1) may beconfigured to receive inputs 104 (FIG. 1) from reference microphones604, to receive inputs 106 (FIG. 1) from error microphones 606, and/orto generate sound control signal 109 (FIG. 1) to be provided to speakers608.

As shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of reference microphones 604 may belocated within and/or in proximity to components of the HVAC system 120(FIG. 1).

In other embodiments, the deployment of ANC system 600 within thevehicle may include any other number of the plurality of speakers 608,the plurality of reference microphones 604, and/or the plurality oferror microphones 606, any other arrangement, positions and/or locationsof the plurality of speakers 608, the plurality of reference microphones604, and/or the plurality of error microphones 606, and/or any otherdeployment of any other additional or alternative components.

Reference is made to FIG. 7, which schematically illustrates possiblelocations of sensors of an ANC system, e.g., in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 7, one or morereference microphones 704 may be located within air ducts of an HVACsystem, e.g., HVAC system 120 (FIG. 1), for example, in one or morepossible locations. For example, controller 193 (FIG. 1) may receiveinputs 104 (FIG. 1) from one or more of the reference microphones 704.

In one example, as shown in FIG. 1, the one or more referencemicrophones 704 may be located in proximity to a blower or a fan,denoted (F), of the HVAC system 120 (FIG. 1).

In one example, as shown in FIG. 1, the one or more referencemicrophones 704 may be located in proximity to a compressor, denoted(C), of the HVAC system 120 (FIG. 1).

In one example, as shown in FIG. 1, the one or more referencemicrophones 704 may be located in proximity to one or more curves orbends, e.g., in proximity to a middle of a curve or a bend and/or rightafter a curve or a bend, denoted (B), in the air ducts of the HVACsystem 120 (FIG. 1).

In one example, as shown in FIG. 1, the one or more referencemicrophones 704 may be located in proximity to one or more air outlets,denoted (0), of the HVAC system 120 (FIG. 1).

In other embodiments, any other additional or alternative locationswithin the air ducts of an HVAC system 120 (FIG. 1) and/or in proximityto any other components of the HVAC system 120 (FIG. 1) may beimplemented.

Reference is made to FIG. 8, which schematically illustrates possiblelocations of sensors of an ANC system, e.g., in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, one or morereference microphones 804 may be located in proximity to outlets of theair ducts of an HVAC system of a vehicle, e.g., under a dashboard of thevehicle. For example, controller 193 (FIG. 1) may receive inputs 104(FIG. 1) from one or more of the reference microphones 804, which may belocated in proximity to outlets of the air ducts of HVAC system 120(FIG. 1).

In other embodiments, any other additional or alternative sensorlocations may be implemented.

Reference is made to FIG. 9, which schematically illustrates possiblelocations of sensors of an ANC system, e.g., in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 9, one or morereference microphones 904 may be located in proximity to outlets of airducts of an HVAC system of a vehicle, e.g., under a dashboard of thevehicle. For example, controller 193 (FIG. 1) may receive inputs 104(FIG. 1) from one or more of the reference microphones 904, which may belocated in proximity to outlets of the air ducts of HVAC system 120(FIG. 1).

In other embodiments, any other additional or alternative locations maybe implemented.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, analysismay be performed with respect to an influence of positions of referencemicrophones and air velocity, e.g., within ducts of the HVAC system 120and/or from air outlets of the HVAC system, on the coherence between theinputs 104 from reference microphones and the inputs 106 from the errormicrophones.

In some demonstrative embodiments, analysis may be performed withrespect to the influence of positions of the reference microphonesproviding inputs 104 and the air velocity in the ducts of the HVACsystem 120 on ANC performance of ANC system 100 at a position of theerror microphones providing inputs 106.

According to these analyses, it is demonstrated that a reference signal104 obtained from a reference microphone may be influenced by a localturbulent flow, which may introduce unwanted noise into the ANC system100, for example, when the reference microphone is located at a highairflow environment. This noise may decrease a correlation between thereference signal 104 and the noise emitted outside the HVAC system 120.This reduced correlation may result in degraded ANC performance.

Reference is made to FIG. 10, which schematically illustrates an airvelocity map of an HVAC system, e.g., in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 10, there may be one or more high airflow environmentsin the HVAC system, for example, at or near bends in the air ducts ofthe HVAC system. For example, the ANC controller 193 (FIG. 1) may beconfigured to generate the sound control signal 109, while taking thesehigh airflow environments into consideration, for example, based on theHAVE input 129 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

Reference is made to FIG. 11, which schematically illustrates a methodof installation of components of an ANC system, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments. For example, one or more operations of themethod of FIG. 11 may be performed, for example, when installing one ormore components of ANC system 100 (FIG. 1).

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at block 1102, themethod may include sensor installation, for example, installation ofreference microphones 604 (FIG. 6).

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at block 1104, themethod may include determining a physical bound of the sensors.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated by arrow 1105, themethod may include propagating over blocks 1102 and 1104, for example,to achieve a suitable result of the physical bound of the sensors.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at block 1106, themethod may include speaker installation, for example, installation ofspeakers 608 (FIG. 6).

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at block 1108, themethod may include determining Active Noise Reduction (ANR) parameters.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated by arrow 1107, themethod may include propagating over blocks 1106 and 1108, for example,to achieve a suitable result of the ANR parameters.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at block 1110, themethod may include performing a performance evaluation.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated by arrow 1109, themethod may include propagating over blocks 1108 and 1110, for example,to achieve a suitable result of the performance.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more operations to install thecomponents of an ANC system, e.g., one or more components of ANC system100 (FIG. 1), may be performed, for example, according to the followingtable:

TABLE 1 Active Noise Reduction (ANR) Propagate # Main goal TasksInvolved back when 1 Mechanical installation of reference NA NA sensors2 Expose noise sources and optimize Multipath Insufficient NoiseTransfer potential Vibration Harness (NVH) package Function (MTF),Multiple Coherence 3 Mechanical installation of speakers NA NA 4Calculate an optimal ANR parameters STF, ANR Poor set estimation speakerperfor- mance 5 To hit the theoretical bound with the ANR Run Sub- ANRoptimal ANR

Reference is made to FIG. 12, which illustrates a method of soundcontrol. For example, one or more of the operations of FIG. 12 may beperformed by one or more components of ANC system 100 (FIG. 1),controller 102 (FIG. 1), controller 193 (FIG. 1), controller 300 (FIG.3), prediction unit 400 (FIG. 4), and/or controller 500 (FIG. 5).

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at block 1202, themethod may include processing input information including, for example,an HVAC input including HVAC configuration information corresponding toa configuration of an operation of an HVAC system of a vehicle; aplurality of noise inputs representing acoustic noise at a plurality ofnoise sensing locations; and/or a plurality of residual-noise inputsrepresenting acoustic residual-noise at a plurality of residual-noisesensing locations within at least one sound control zone in the vehicle.For example, controller 193 (FIG. 1) may be configured to process inputinformation 195 (FIG. 1) including the noise inputs 104 (FIG. 1),residual-noise inputs 106 (FIG. 1), and/or the HVAC input 129 (FIG. 1),e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at block 1204, themethod may include determining a sound control pattern to control soundwithin the at least one sound control zone in the vehicle, the soundcontrol pattern based on the HVAC input, the plurality of noise inputsand the plurality of residual-noise inputs. For example, controller 193(FIG. 1) may be configured to determine the sound control pattern basedon the input information 195 (FIG. 1) including the noise inputs 104(FIG. 1), residual-noise inputs 106 (FIG. 1), and/or the HVAC input 129(FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as indicated at block 1206, themethod may include outputting the sound control pattern to a pluralityof acoustic transducers. For example, controller 193 (FIG. 1) may beconfigured to output sound control signal 109 (FIG. 1 to controlacoustic transducers 108 (FIG. 1) to generate the sound control pattern,e.g., as described above.

Reference is made to FIG. 13, which schematically illustrates a productof manufacture 1300, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.Product 1300 may include one or more tangible computer-readable(“machine readable”) non-transitory storage media 1302, which mayinclude computer-executable instructions, e.g., implemented by logic1304, operable to, when executed by at least one processor, e.g.,computer processor, enable the at least one processor to implement oneor more operations of ANC system 100 (FIG. 1), controller 102 (FIG. 1),controller 193 (FIG. 1), controller 300 (FIG. 3), prediction unit 400(FIG. 4), and/or controller 500 (FIG. 5), to perform one or moreoperations, and/or to perform, trigger and/or implement one or moreoperations, communications and/or functionalities described above withreference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and/or 12, and/orone or more operations described herein. The phrases “non-transitorymachine-readable media (medium)” and “computer-readable non-transitorystorage media (medium)” are directed to include all computer-readablemedia, with the sole exception being a transitory propagating signal.

In some demonstrative embodiments, product 1300 and/or storage media1302 may include one or more types of computer-readable storage mediacapable of storing data, including volatile memory, non-volatile memory,removable or non-removable memory, erasable or non-erasable memory,writeable or re-writeable memory, and the like. For example, storagemedia 1302 may include, RAM, DRAM, Double-Data-Rate DRAM (DDR-DRAM),SDRAM, static RAM (SRAM), ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasableprogrammable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM(EEPROM), Compact Disk ROM (CD-ROM), Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R),Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), flash memory (e.g., NOR or NAND flashmemory), content addressable memory (CAM), polymer memory, phase-changememory, ferroelectric memory, silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon(SONOS) memory, a disk, a floppy disk, a hard drive, an optical disk, amagnetic disk, a card, a magnetic card, an optical card, a tape, acassette, and the like. The computer-readable storage media may includeany suitable media involved with downloading or transferring a computerprogram from a remote computer to a requesting computer carried by datasignals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium through acommunication link, e.g., a modem, radio or network connection.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 1304 may include instructions,data, and/or code, which, if executed by a machine, may cause themachine to perform a method, process and/or operations as describedherein. The machine may include, for example, any suitable processingplatform, computing platform, computing device, processing device,computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like,and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware,software, firmware, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 1304 may include, or may beimplemented as, software, a software module, an application, a program,a subroutine, instructions, an instruction set, computing code, words,values, symbols, and the like. The instructions may include any suitabletype of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code,executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. Theinstructions may be implemented according to a predefined computerlanguage, manner or syntax, for instructing a processor to perform acertain function. The instructions may be implemented using any suitablehigh-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/orinterpreted programming language, such as C, C++, Java, BASIC, Matlab,Pascal, Visual BASIC, assembly language, machine code, and the like.

Examples

The following examples pertain to further embodiments.

Example 1 includes an apparatus comprising an input to receive inputinformation, the input information comprising a Heating, Ventilation andAir Conditioning (HVAC) input comprising HVAC configuration informationcorresponding to a configuration of an operation of an HVAC system of avehicle; a plurality of noise inputs representing acoustic noise at aplurality of noise sensing locations; and a plurality of residual-noiseinputs representing acoustic residual-noise at a plurality ofresidual-noise sensing locations within at least one sound control zonein the vehicle; a controller comprising logic and circuitry configuredto determine a sound control pattern to control sound within the atleast one sound control zone in the vehicle, the controller configuredto determine the sound control pattern based on the HVAC input, theplurality of noise inputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs;and an output to output the sound control pattern to a plurality ofacoustic transducers.

Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine the sound controlpattern based on the HVAC input such that the sound control pattern isto reduce or eliminate noise from the HVAC system in the at least onesound control zone.

Example 3 includes the subject matter of Example 1 or 2, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine a first sound controlpattern based on first HVAC configuration information representing afirst configuration of the operation of the HVAC system, and todetermine a second sound control pattern, different from the first soundcontrol pattern, based on second HVAC configuration informationrepresenting a second configuration of the operation of the HVAC systemdifferent from the first configuration of the operation of the HVACsystem.

Example 4 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-3, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically updatethe sound control pattern based on a change in the HVAC configurationinformation representing a change in the configuration of the operationof the HVAC system.

Example 5 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-4, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine an HVACnoise control profile based on the HVAC configuration information, andto determine the sound control pattern based on the HVAC noise controlprofile.

Example 6 includes the subject matter of Example 5, and optionally,wherein the HVAC noise control profile comprises a setting of one ormore sound control parameters, the controller configured to determinethe sound control pattern based on the setting of the one or more soundcontrol parameters.

Example 7 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-6, andoptionally, comprising a memory to store a plurality of HVAC noisecontrol profiles corresponding to a plurality of HVAC operationconfigurations, respectively, an HVAC noise control profile comprising asetting of one or more sound control parameters corresponding to an HVACoperation configuration of the plurality of HVAC operationconfigurations, wherein the controller is configured to select from theplurality of HVAC noise control profiles a selected HVAC noise controlprofile based on the HVAC configuration information, and to determinethe sound control pattern based on the selected HVAC noise controlprofile.

Example 8 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-7, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine a settingof one or more sound control parameters based on the HVAC input, and todetermine the sound control pattern based on the setting of the one ormore sound control parameters.

Example 9 includes the subject matter of Example 8, and optionally,wherein the setting of the one or more sound control parameterscomprises a prediction filter setting for determining the sound controlpattern based on the plurality of noise inputs and the plurality ofresidual-noise inputs.

Example 10 includes the subject matter of Example 8 or 9, andoptionally, wherein the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters comprises a prediction filter weight vector to be applied fordetermining the sound control pattern based on the plurality of noiseinputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs.

Example 11 includes the subject matter of Example 10, and optionally,wherein the setting of the one or more sound control parameterscomprises an update rate parameter for updating the prediction filterweight vector.

Example 12 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 8-11, andoptionally, wherein the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters comprises one or more path transfer functions to be appliedfor determining the sound control pattern based on the plurality ofnoise inputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs.

Example 13 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-12, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of noise sensing locations comprises aplurality of HVAC noise sensing locations, which are defined withrespect to one or more components of the HVAC system.

Example 14 includes the subject matter of Example 13, and optionally,wherein the plurality of HVAC noise sensing locations comprise one ormore of a location of a blower of the HVAC system, a location of a fanof the HVAC system, a location of a compressor of the HVAC system, alocation of an air outlet of the HVAC system, or a location in an airduct of the HVAC system.

Example 15 includes the subject matter of Example 13 or 14, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of HVAC noise sensing locationscomprises a location of a curved portion of an air duct of the HVACsystem.

Example 16 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-15, andoptionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprises HVACmode information corresponding to a mode of operation of the HVACsystem, the controller configured to determine the sound control patternbased on the HVAC mode information.

Example 17 includes the subject matter of Example 16, and optionally,wherein the HVAC mode information corresponds to at least one of an HVACheating mode, an HVAC cooling mode, an HVAC defrosting mode, an HVAC fanmode, an HVAC ventilation mode, an HVAC dry mode, or an HVAC defoggingmode.

Example 18 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-17, andoptionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprises HVACfan information corresponding to an operation of at least one of ablower or fan of the HVAC system, the controller configured to determinethe sound control pattern based on the HVAC fan information.

Example 19 includes the subject matter of Example 18, and optionally,wherein the HVAC fan information corresponds to at least one of a fanturbo mode, a fan quit mode, or a fan speed.

Example 20 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-19, andoptionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprises HVACclimate information corresponding to a climate setting of the HVACsystem, the controller configured to determine the sound control patternbased on the HVAC climate information.

Example 21 includes the subject matter of Example 20, and optionally,wherein the HVAC climate information corresponds to at least one of atemperature setting, or a humidity setting.

Example 22 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-21, andoptionally, wherein the input is configured to receive the HVAC inputvia at least one of a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus of the vehicle,an A to B (A2B) bus of the vehicle, a Media Oriented Systems Transport(MOST) bus of the vehicle, or an Ethernet bus of the vehicle.

Example 23 includes a vehicle comprising a Heating, Ventilation and AirConditioning (HVAC) system to control a climate in the vehicle; and asound control system configured to control sound within at least onesound control zone in the vehicle, the sound control system comprising aplurality of accosting transducers; a plurality of noise sensors togenerate a plurality of noise inputs representing acoustic noise at aplurality of noise sensing locations; a plurality of residual-noisesensors to generate a plurality of residual-noise inputs representingacoustic residual-noise at a plurality of residual-noise sensinglocations within the at least one sound control zone; and a controllercomprising logic and circuitry configured to determine a sound controlpattern to control sound within the at least one sound control zone andto output the sound control pattern to the plurality of acoustictransducers, the controller configured to determine the sound controlpattern based on the plurality of noise inputs, the plurality ofresidual-noise inputs, and an HVAC input comprising HVAC configurationinformation corresponding to a configuration of an operation of the HVACsystem.

Example 24 includes the subject matter of Example 23, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to determine the sound controlpattern based on the HVAC input such that the sound control pattern isto reduce or eliminate noise from the HVAC system in the at least onesound control zone.

Example 25 includes the subject matter of Example 23 or 24, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine a firstsound control pattern based on first HVAC configuration informationrepresenting a first configuration of the operation of the HVAC system,and to determine a second sound control pattern, different from thefirst sound control pattern, based on second HVAC configurationinformation representing a second configuration of the operation of theHVAC system different from the first configuration of the operation ofthe HVAC system.

Example 26 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 23-25, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically updatethe sound control pattern based on a change in the HVAC configurationinformation representing a change in the configuration of the operationof the HVAC system.

Example 27 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 23-26, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine an HVACnoise control profile based on the HVAC configuration information, andto determine the sound control pattern based on the HVAC noise controlprofile.

Example 28 includes the subject matter of Example 27, and optionally,wherein the HVAC noise control profile comprises a setting of one ormore sound control parameters, the controller configured to determinethe sound control pattern based on the setting of the one or more soundcontrol parameters.

Example 29 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 23-28, andoptionally, wherein the sound control system comprises a memory to storea plurality of HVAC noise control profiles corresponding to a pluralityof HVAC operation configurations, respectively, an HVAC noise controlprofile comprising a setting of one or more sound control parameterscorresponding to an HVAC operation configuration of the plurality ofHVAC operation configurations, wherein the controller is configured toselect from the plurality of HVAC noise control profiles a selected HVACnoise control profile based on the HVAC configuration information, andto determine the sound control pattern based on the selected HVAC noisecontrol profile.

Example 30 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 23-29, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to determine a settingof one or more sound control parameters based on the HVAC input, and todetermine the sound control pattern based on the setting of the one ormore sound control parameters.

Example 31 includes the subject matter of Example 30, and optionally,wherein the setting of the one or more sound control parameterscomprises a prediction filter setting for determining the sound controlpattern based on the plurality of noise inputs and the plurality ofresidual-noise inputs.

Example 32 includes the subject matter of Example 30 or 31, andoptionally, wherein the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters comprises a prediction filter weight vector to be applied fordetermining the sound control pattern based on the plurality of noiseinputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs.

Example 33 includes the subject matter of Example 32, and optionally,wherein the setting of the one or more sound control parameterscomprises an update rate parameter for updating the prediction filterweight vector.

Example 34 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 30-33, andoptionally, wherein the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters comprises one or more path transfer functions to be appliedfor determining the sound control pattern based on the plurality ofnoise inputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs.

Example 35 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 23-34, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of noise sensing locations comprises aplurality of HVAC noise sensing locations, which are defined withrespect to one or more components of the HVAC system.

Example 36 includes the subject matter of Example 35, and optionally,wherein the plurality of HVAC noise sensing locations comprise one ormore of a location of a blower of the HVAC system, a location of a fanof the HVAC system, a location of a compressor of the HVAC system, alocation of an air outlet of the HVAC system, or a location in an airduct of the HVAC system.

Example 37 includes the subject matter of Example 35 or 36, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of HVAC noise sensing locationscomprises a location of a curved portion of an air duct of the HVACsystem.

Example 38 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 23-37, andoptionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprises HVACmode information corresponding to a mode of operation of the HVACsystem, the controller configured to determine the sound control patternbased on the HVAC mode information.

Example 39 includes the subject matter of Example 38, and optionally,wherein the HVAC mode information corresponds to at least one of an HVACheating mode, an HVAC cooling mode, an HVAC defrosting mode, an HVAC fanmode, an HVAC ventilation mode, an HVAC dry mode, or an HVAC defoggingmode.

Example 40 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 23-39, andoptionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprises HVACfan information corresponding to an operation of at least one of ablower or fan of the HVAC system, the controller configured to determinethe sound control pattern based on the HVAC fan information.

Example 41 includes the subject matter of Example 40, and optionally,wherein the HVAC fan information corresponds to at least one of a fanturbo mode, a fan quit mode, or a fan speed.

Example 42 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 23-41, andoptionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprises HVACclimate information corresponding to a climate setting of the HVACsystem, the controller configured to determine the sound control patternbased on the HVAC climate information.

Example 43 includes the subject matter of Example 42, and optionally,wherein the HVAC climate information corresponds to at least one of atemperature setting, or a humidity setting.

Example 44 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 23-43, andoptionally, wherein the input is configured to receive the HVAC inputvia at least one of a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus of the vehicle,an A to B (A2B) bus of the vehicle, a Media Oriented Systems Transport(MOST) bus of the vehicle, or an Ethernet bus of the vehicle.

Example 45 includes a method of controlling sound within at least onesound control zone in a vehicle, the method comprising receiving inputinformation, the input information comprising a Heating, Ventilation andAir Conditioning (HVAC) input comprising HVAC configuration informationcorresponding to a configuration of an operation of an HVAC system of avehicle; a plurality of noise inputs representing acoustic noise at aplurality of noise sensing locations; and a plurality of residual-noiseinputs representing acoustic residual-noise at a plurality ofresidual-noise sensing locations within the at least one sound controlzone; determining a sound control pattern to control sound within the atleast one sound control zone based on the HVAC input, the plurality ofnoise inputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs; and outputtingthe sound control pattern to a plurality of acoustic transducers.

Example 46 includes the subject matter of Example 45, and optionally,comprising determining the sound control pattern based on the HVAC inputsuch that the sound control pattern is to reduce or eliminate noise fromthe HVAC system in the at least one sound control zone.

Example 47 includes the subject matter of Example 45 or 46, andoptionally, comprising determining a first sound control pattern basedon first HVAC configuration information representing a firstconfiguration of the operation of the HVAC system, and determining asecond sound control pattern, different from the first sound controlpattern, based on second HVAC configuration information representing asecond configuration of the operation of the HVAC system different fromthe first configuration of the operation of the HVAC system.

Example 48 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 45-47, andoptionally, comprising dynamically updating the sound control patternbased on a change in the HVAC configuration information representing achange in the configuration of the operation of the HVAC system.

Example 49 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 45-48, andoptionally, comprising determining an HVAC noise control profile basedon the HVAC configuration information, and determining the sound controlpattern based on the HVAC noise control profile.

Example 50 includes the subject matter of Example 49, and optionally,wherein the HVAC noise control profile comprises a setting of one ormore sound control parameters, the method comprising determining thesound control pattern based on the setting of the one or more soundcontrol parameters.

Example 51 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 45-50, andoptionally, comprising storing a plurality of HVAC noise controlprofiles corresponding to a plurality of HVAC operation configurations,respectively, an HVAC noise control profile comprising a setting of oneor more sound control parameters corresponding to an HVAC operationconfiguration of the plurality of HVAC operation configurations;selecting from the plurality of HVAC noise control profiles a selectedHVAC noise control profile based on the HVAC configuration information;and determining the sound control pattern based on the selected HVACnoise control profile.

Example 52 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 45-51, andoptionally, comprising determining a setting of one or more soundcontrol parameters based on the HVAC input, and determining the soundcontrol pattern based on the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters.

Example 53 includes the subject matter of Example 52, and optionally,wherein the setting of the one or more sound control parameterscomprises a prediction filter setting for determining the sound controlpattern based on the plurality of noise inputs and the plurality ofresidual-noise inputs.

Example 54 includes the subject matter of Example 52 or 53, andoptionally, wherein the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters comprises a prediction filter weight vector to be applied fordetermining the sound control pattern based on the plurality of noiseinputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs.

Example 55 includes the subject matter of Example 54, and optionally,wherein the setting of the one or more sound control parameterscomprises an update rate parameter for updating the prediction filterweight vector.

Example 56 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 52-55, andoptionally, wherein the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters comprises one or more path transfer functions to be appliedfor determining the sound control pattern based on the plurality ofnoise inputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs.

Example 57 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 45-56, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of noise sensing locations comprises aplurality of HVAC noise sensing locations, which are defined withrespect to one or more components of the HVAC system.

Example 58 includes the subject matter of Example 57, and optionally,wherein the plurality of HVAC noise sensing locations comprise one ormore of a location of a blower of the HVAC system, a location of a fanof the HVAC system, a location of a compressor of the HVAC system, alocation of an air outlet of the HVAC system, or a location in an airduct of the HVAC system.

Example 59 includes the subject matter of Example 57 or 58, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of HVAC noise sensing locationscomprises a location of a curved portion of an air duct of the HVACsystem.

Example 60 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 45-59, andoptionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprises HVACmode information corresponding to a mode of operation of the HVACsystem, the method comprising determining the sound control patternbased on the HVAC mode information.

Example 61 includes the subject matter of Example 60, and optionally,wherein the HVAC mode information corresponds to at least one of an HVACheating mode, an HVAC cooling mode, an HVAC defrosting mode, an HVAC fanmode, an HVAC ventilation mode, an HVAC dry mode, or an HVAC defoggingmode.

Example 62 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 45-61, andoptionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprises HVACfan information corresponding to an operation of at least one of ablower or fan of the HVAC system, the method comprising determining thesound control pattern based on the HVAC fan information.

Example 63 includes the subject matter of Example 62, and optionally,wherein the HVAC fan information corresponds to at least one of a fanturbo mode, a fan quit mode, or a fan speed.

Example 64 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 45-63, andoptionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprises HVACclimate information corresponding to a climate setting of the HVACsystem, the method comprising determining the sound control patternbased on the HVAC climate information.

Example 65 includes the subject matter of Example 64, and optionally,wherein the HVAC climate information corresponds to at least one of atemperature setting, or a humidity setting.

Example 66 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 45-65, andoptionally, comprising receiving the HVAC input via at least one of aController Area Network (CAN) bus of the vehicle, an A to B (A2B) bus ofthe vehicle, a Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) bus of thevehicle, or an Ethernet bus of the vehicle.

Example 67 includes a product comprising one or more tangiblecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media comprisingcomputer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at leastone processor, enable the at least one processor to cause a soundcontrol system to control sound within at least one sound control zonein a vehicle, the instructions, when executed, to cause the noisecontrol system to process input information, the input informationcomprising a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) inputcomprising HVAC configuration information corresponding to aconfiguration of an operation of an HVAC system of a vehicle; aplurality of noise inputs representing acoustic noise at a plurality ofnoise sensing locations; and a plurality of residual-noise inputsrepresenting acoustic residual-noise at a plurality of residual-noisesensing locations within the at least one sound control zone; determinea sound control pattern to control sound within the at least one soundcontrol zone based on the HVAC input, the plurality of noise inputs andthe plurality of residual-noise inputs; and output the sound controlpattern to a plurality of acoustic transducers.

Example 68 includes the subject matter of Example 67, and optionally,wherein the instructions, when executed, result in determining the soundcontrol pattern based on the HVAC input such that the sound controlpattern is to reduce or eliminate noise from the HVAC system in the atleast one sound control zone.

Example 69 includes the subject matter of Example 67 or 68, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, result indetermining a first sound control pattern based on first HVACconfiguration information representing a first configuration of theoperation of the HVAC system, and determining a second sound controlpattern, different from the first sound control pattern, based on secondHVAC configuration information representing a second configuration ofthe operation of the HVAC system different from the first configurationof the operation of the HVAC system.

Example 70 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 67-69, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, result indynamically updating the sound control pattern based on a change in theHVAC configuration information representing a change in theconfiguration of the operation of the HVAC system.

Example 71 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 67-70, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, result indetermining an HVAC noise control profile based on the HVACconfiguration information, and determining the sound control patternbased on the HVAC noise control profile.

Example 72 includes the subject matter of Example 71, and optionally,wherein the HVAC noise control profile comprises a setting of one ormore sound control parameters, wherein the instructions, when executed,result in determining the sound control pattern based on the setting ofthe one or more sound control parameters.

Example 73 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 67-72, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, result in storing aplurality of HVAC noise control profiles corresponding to a plurality ofHVAC operation configurations, respectively, an HVAC noise controlprofile comprising a setting of one or more sound control parameterscorresponding to an HVAC operation configuration of the plurality ofHVAC operation configurations; selecting from the plurality of HVACnoise control profiles a selected HVAC noise control profile based onthe HVAC configuration information; and determining the sound controlpattern based on the selected HVAC noise control profile.

Example 74 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 67-73, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, result indetermining a setting of one or more sound control parameters based onthe HVAC input, and determining the sound control pattern based on thesetting of the one or more sound control parameters.

Example 75 includes the subject matter of Example 74, and optionally,wherein the setting of the one or more sound control parameterscomprises a prediction filter setting for determining the sound controlpattern based on the plurality of noise inputs and the plurality ofresidual-noise inputs.

Example 76 includes the subject matter of Example 74 or 75, andoptionally, wherein the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters comprises a prediction filter weight vector to be applied fordetermining the sound control pattern based on the plurality of noiseinputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs.

Example 77 includes the subject matter of Example 76, and optionally,wherein the setting of the one or more sound control parameterscomprises an update rate parameter for updating the prediction filterweight vector.

Example 78 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 74-77, andoptionally, wherein the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters comprises one or more path transfer functions to be appliedfor determining the sound control pattern based on the plurality ofnoise inputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs.

Example 79 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 67-78, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of noise sensing locations comprises aplurality of HVAC noise sensing locations, which are defined withrespect to one or more components of the HVAC system.

Example 80 includes the subject matter of Example 79, and optionally,wherein the plurality of HVAC noise sensing locations comprise one ormore of a location of a blower of the HVAC system, a location of a fanof the HVAC system, a location of a compressor of the HVAC system, alocation of an air outlet of the HVAC system, or a location in an airduct of the HVAC system.

Example 81 includes the subject matter of Example 79 or 80, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of HVAC noise sensing locationscomprises a location of a curved portion of an air duct of the HVACsystem.

Example 82 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 67-81, andoptionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprises HVACmode information corresponding to a mode of operation of the HVACsystem, wherein the instructions, when executed, result in determiningthe sound control pattern based on the HVAC mode information.

Example 83 includes the subject matter of Example 82, and optionally,wherein the HVAC mode information corresponds to at least one of an HVACheating mode, an HVAC cooling mode, an HVAC defrosting mode, an HVAC fanmode, an HVAC ventilation mode, an HVAC dry mode, or an HVAC defoggingmode.

Example 84 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 67-83, andoptionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprises HVACfan information corresponding to an operation of at least one of ablower or fan of the HVAC system, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted, result in determining the sound control pattern based on theHVAC fan information.

Example 85 includes the subject matter of Example 84, and optionally,wherein the HVAC fan information corresponds to at least one of a fanturbo mode, a fan quit mode, or a fan speed.

Example 86 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 67-85, andoptionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprises HVACclimate information corresponding to a climate setting of the HVACsystem, wherein the instructions, when executed, result in determiningthe sound control pattern based on the HVAC climate information.

Example 87 includes the subject matter of Example 86, and optionally,wherein the HVAC climate information corresponds to at least one of atemperature setting, or a humidity setting.

Example 88 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 67-87, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, result in receivingthe HVAC input via at least one of a Controller Area Network (CAN) busof the vehicle, an A to B (A2B) bus of the vehicle, a Media OrientedSystems Transport (MOST) bus of the vehicle, or an Ethernet bus of thevehicle.

Example 89 includes an apparatus of controlling sound within at leastone sound control zone in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising means forreceiving input information, the input information comprising a Heating,Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) input comprising HVACconfiguration information corresponding to a configuration of anoperation of an HVAC system of a vehicle; a plurality of noise inputsrepresenting acoustic noise at a plurality of noise sensing locations;and a plurality of residual-noise inputs representing acousticresidual-noise at a plurality of residual-noise sensing locations withinthe at least one sound control zone; means for determining a soundcontrol pattern to control sound within the at least one sound controlzone based on the HVAC input, the plurality of noise inputs and theplurality of residual-noise inputs; and means for outputting the soundcontrol pattern to a plurality of acoustic transducers.

Example 90 includes the subject matter of Example 89, and optionally,comprising means for determining the sound control pattern based on theHVAC input such that the sound control pattern is to reduce or eliminatenoise from the HVAC system in the at least one sound control zone.

Example 91 includes the subject matter of Example 89 or 90, andoptionally, comprising means for determining a first sound controlpattern based on first HVAC configuration information representing afirst configuration of the operation of the HVAC system, and determininga second sound control pattern, different from the first sound controlpattern, based on second HVAC configuration information representing asecond configuration of the operation of the HVAC system different fromthe first configuration of the operation of the HVAC system.

Example 92 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 89-91, andoptionally, comprising means for dynamically updating the sound controlpattern based on a change in the HVAC configuration informationrepresenting a change in the configuration of the operation of the HVACsystem.

Example 93 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 89-92, andoptionally, comprising means for determining an HVAC noise controlprofile based on the HVAC configuration information, and determining thesound control pattern based on the HVAC noise control profile.

Example 94 includes the subject matter of Example 93, and optionally,wherein the HVAC noise control profile comprises a setting of one ormore sound control parameters, the apparatus comprising means fordetermining the sound control pattern based on the setting of the one ormore sound control parameters.

Example 95 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 89-94, andoptionally, comprising means for storing a plurality of HVAC noisecontrol profiles corresponding to a plurality of HVAC operationconfigurations, respectively, an HVAC noise control profile comprising asetting of one or more sound control parameters corresponding to an HVACoperation configuration of the plurality of HVAC operationconfigurations; selecting from the plurality of HVAC noise controlprofiles a selected HVAC noise control profile based on the HVACconfiguration information; and determining the sound control patternbased on the selected HVAC noise control profile.

Example 96 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 89-95, andoptionally, comprising means for determining a setting of one or moresound control parameters based on the HVAC input, and determining thesound control pattern based on the setting of the one or more soundcontrol parameters.

Example 97 includes the subject matter of Example 96, and optionally,wherein the setting of the one or more sound control parameterscomprises a prediction filter setting for determining the sound controlpattern based on the plurality of noise inputs and the plurality ofresidual-noise inputs.

Example 98 includes the subject matter of Example 96 or 97, andoptionally, wherein the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters comprises a prediction filter weight vector to be applied fordetermining the sound control pattern based on the plurality of noiseinputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs.

Example 99 includes the subject matter of Example 98, and optionally,wherein the setting of the one or more sound control parameterscomprises an update rate parameter for updating the prediction filterweight vector.

Example 100 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 96-99,and optionally, wherein the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters comprises one or more path transfer functions to be appliedfor determining the sound control pattern based on the plurality ofnoise inputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs.

Example 101 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 89-100,and optionally, wherein the plurality of noise sensing locationscomprises a plurality of HVAC noise sensing locations, which are definedwith respect to one or more components of the HVAC system.

Example 102 includes the subject matter of Example 101, and optionally,wherein the plurality of HVAC noise sensing locations comprise one ormore of a location of a blower of the HVAC system, a location of a fanof the HVAC system, a location of a compressor of the HVAC system, alocation of an air outlet of the HVAC system, or a location in an airduct of the HVAC system.

Example 103 includes the subject matter of Example 101 or 102, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of HVAC noise sensing locationscomprises a location of a curved portion of an air duct of the HVACsystem.

Example 104 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 89-103,and optionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprisesHVAC mode information corresponding to a mode of operation of the HVACsystem, the apparatus comprising means for determining the sound controlpattern based on the HVAC mode information.

Example 105 includes the subject matter of Example 104, and optionally,wherein the HVAC mode information corresponds to at least one of an HVACheating mode, an HVAC cooling mode, an HVAC defrosting mode, an HVAC fanmode, an HVAC ventilation mode, an HVAC dry mode, or an HVAC defoggingmode.

Example 106 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 89-105,and optionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprisesHVAC fan information corresponding to an operation of at least one of ablower or fan of the HVAC system, the apparatus comprising means fordetermining the sound control pattern based on the HVAC fan information.

Example 107 includes the subject matter of Example 106, and optionally,wherein the HVAC fan information corresponds to at least one of a fanturbo mode, a fan quit mode, or a fan speed.

Example 108 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 89-107,and optionally, wherein the HVAC configuration information comprisesHVAC climate information corresponding to a climate setting of the HVACsystem, the apparatus comprising means for determining the sound controlpattern based on the HVAC climate information.

Example 109 includes the subject matter of Example 108, and optionally,wherein the HVAC climate information corresponds to at least one of atemperature setting, or a humidity setting.

Example 110 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 89-109,and optionally, comprising means for receiving the HVAC input via atleast one of a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus of the vehicle, an A toB (A2B) bus of the vehicle, a Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST)bus of the vehicle, or an Ethernet bus of the vehicle.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein withreference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may beutilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations,components and/or features described herein with reference to one ormore other embodiments, or vice versa.

While certain features have been illustrated and described herein, manymodifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur tothose skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that theappended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changesas fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: an input to receiveinput information, the input information comprising: system businformation received via a system bus of a vehicle; a plurality of noiseinputs representing acoustic noise at a plurality of noise sensinglocations; and a plurality of residual-noise inputs representingacoustic residual-noise at a plurality of residual-noise sensinglocations within a sound control zone in the vehicle; a controllercomprising logic and circuitry configured to determine a sound controlpattern to control sound within the sound control zone in the vehicle,the controller configured to determine the sound control pattern basedon the system bus information, the plurality of noise inputs, and theplurality of residual-noise inputs; and an output to output the soundcontrol pattern to a plurality of acoustic transducers.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine aprediction filter setting of at least one prediction filter based on thesystem bus information, and to determine the sound control pattern basedon the prediction filter setting.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, whereinthe prediction filter setting comprises a prediction filter weightvector to be applied by the prediction filter for determining the soundcontrol pattern based on the plurality of noise inputs and the pluralityof residual-noise inputs.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein theprediction filter setting comprises an update rate parameter forupdating the prediction filter weight vector.
 5. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the controller is configured to determine a path transferfunction setting of one or more path transfer functions based on thesystem bus information, and to apply the path transfer function settingfor determining the sound control pattern based on the plurality ofnoise inputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the system bus information comprisesvehicular system information corresponding to a noise generatingvehicular system of the vehicle, the controller configured to determinethe sound control pattern based on the vehicular system information. 7.The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured todetermine the sound control pattern based on the vehicular systeminformation such that the sound control pattern is to reduce oreliminate noise from noise generating vehicular system in the soundcontrol zone.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system businformation comprises vehicular system setting information representinga setting of a vehicular system of the vehicle, the controllerconfigured to determine the sound control pattern based on the vehicularsystem setting information.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein thecontroller is configured to determine a first sound control patternbased on first vehicular system setting information representing a firstsetting of the vehicular system, and to determine a second sound controlpattern, different from the first sound control pattern, based on secondvehicular system setting information representing a second setting ofthe vehicular system different from the first setting of the vehicularsystem.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller isconfigured to dynamically update the sound control pattern based on achange in the vehicular system setting information representing a changein the setting of the vehicular system.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the system bus information comprises mode of operationinformation representing a mode of operation of a vehicular system ofthe vehicle, the controller configured to determine the sound controlpattern based on the mode of operation information.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the controller is configured to determine a firstsound control pattern based on first mode of operation informationrepresenting a first mode of operation of the vehicular system, and todetermine a second sound control pattern, different from the first soundcontrol pattern, based on second mode of operation informationrepresenting a second mode of operation of the vehicular systemdifferent from the first mode of operation of the vehicular system. 13.The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured todynamically update the sound control pattern based on a change in themode of operation information representing a change in the mode ofoperation of the vehicular system.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe system bus information comprises speed information, the controllerconfigured to determine the sound control pattern based on the speedinformation.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller isconfigured to determine a sound control profile based on the system businformation, and to determine the sound control pattern based on thesound control profile.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the soundcontrol profile comprises a setting of one or more sound controlparameters, the controller configured to determine the sound controlpattern based on the setting of the one or more sound controlparameters.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a memory to store aplurality of sound control profiles corresponding to a plurality ofsound control configurations, respectively, wherein the controller isconfigured to select from the plurality of sound control profiles aselected sound control profile based on the system bus information, andto determine the sound control pattern based on the selected soundcontrol profile.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system businformation comprises at least one of Controller Area Network (CAN) businformation received via a CAN bus of the vehicle, A to B (A2B) businformation received via an A2B bus of the vehicle, Media OrientedSystems Transport (MOST) bus information received via a MOST bus of thevehicle, or Ethernet bus information received via an Ethernet bus of thevehicle.
 19. A vehicle comprising: a system bus to communicateinformation between a plurality of vehicular systems of the vehicle; anda sound control system configured to control sound within a soundcontrol zone in the vehicle, the sound control system comprising: aplurality of acoustic transducers; a plurality of noise sensors togenerate a plurality of noise inputs representing acoustic noise at aplurality of noise sensing locations; a plurality of residual-noisesensors to generate a plurality of residual-noise inputs representingacoustic residual-noise at a plurality of residual-noise sensinglocations within the sound control zone; and a controller comprisinglogic and circuitry configured to determine a sound control pattern tocontrol sound within the sound control zone and to output the soundcontrol pattern to the plurality of acoustic transducers, the controllerconfigured to determine the sound control pattern based on the pluralityof noise inputs, the plurality of residual-noise inputs, and system businformation received via the system bus of the vehicle.
 20. The vehicleof claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to determine aprediction filter setting of at least one prediction filter based on thesystem bus information, and to determine the sound control pattern basedon the prediction filter setting.
 21. The vehicle of claim 19, whereinthe system bus information comprises vehicular system informationcorresponding to a noise generating vehicular system of the vehicle, thecontroller configured to determine the sound control pattern based onthe vehicular system information.
 22. The vehicle of claim 19, whereinthe system bus information comprises vehicular system settinginformation representing a setting of a vehicular system of the vehicle,the controller configured to determine the sound control pattern basedon the vehicular system setting information.
 23. A product comprisingone or more tangible computer-readable non-transitory storage mediacomprising computer-executable instructions operable to, when executedby at least one processor, enable the at least one processor to cause asound control system to control sound within a sound control zone in avehicle, the instructions, when executed, to cause the sound controlsystem to: process input information, the input information comprising:system bus information received via a system bus of the vehicle; aplurality of noise inputs representing acoustic noise at a plurality ofnoise sensing locations; and a plurality of residual-noise inputsrepresenting acoustic residual-noise at a plurality of residual-noisesensing locations within the sound control zone in the vehicle;determine a sound control pattern to control sound within the soundcontrol zone based on the system bus information, the plurality of noiseinputs and the plurality of residual-noise inputs; and output the soundcontrol pattern to a plurality of acoustic transducers.
 24. The productof claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the soundcontrol system to determine a prediction filter setting of at least oneprediction filter based on the system bus information, and to determinethe sound control pattern based on the prediction filter setting. 25.The product of claim 23, wherein the system bus information comprisesvehicular system information corresponding to a noise generatingvehicular system of the vehicle, the instructions, when executed, causethe sound control system to determine the sound control pattern based onthe vehicular system information.
 26. The product of claim 23, whereinthe system bus information comprises mode of operation informationrepresenting a mode of operation of a vehicular system of the vehicle,the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system todetermine the sound control pattern based on the mode of operationinformation.